Recover deleted WhatsApp pictures - how to do it

If you have accidentally deleted a picture in a WhatsApp chat, there are several ways you can recover the file. How you need to proceed depends on whether you are using an Android or iOS smartphone.

Recover deleted WhatsApp pictures via the file manager

As an Android user, you can try to retrieve pictures deleted in WhatsApp via the file manager. iOS users do not have this option. Follow these steps to recover pictures via the file manager:

1. Open the file manager on your Android smartphone and go to the "Internal Storage" category.
2. Find the "WhatsApp" folder in the list and tap it to open it.
3. Tap on "Backups" and then on "Media".
4. Here you will find the folder "WhatsApp Images", which contains all received as well as sent WhatsApp images.

Restore images via backup

Android users can also use the backup function of WhatsApp to restore content in addition to the file manager. For iPhone users, this function, is the only way to restore data. The procedure to load a backup is the same on iOS and Android.

1. Open WhatsApp and access the settings.
2. Tap "Chats" and then "Chat Backup" and make sure there is a recent backup. Note that all data received after the backup date will be lost.
3. To load a backup, you need to uninstall WhatsApp and then reinstall it.
4. After confirming your phone number, you will be given the option to restore your chat history via the backup. To do this, follow the instructions in the wizard.